JP6215158B2 - Chain terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a chain terminal.

  As a conventional chain terminal, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a wire-shaped terminal made of a rectangular wire is predetermined in the length direction of the carrier in a state where its central axis is oriented in the width direction of the carrier with respect to a band-shaped carrier. There is disclosed a chain terminal which is fixedly locked in parallel with an interval.

JP 2011-028916 A

  By the way, the chained terminal described in Patent Document 1 described above constitutes a connector or the like by assembling each terminal to a connector housing or the like. For example, in terms of workability when removing each terminal from the carrier. There is room for further improvement.

  This invention is made | formed in view of said situation, Comprising: It aims at providing the chain terminal which can improve the workability | operativity at the time of removing each terminal from a carrier.

  In order to achieve the above object, a chain terminal according to the present invention includes a plurality of terminals formed in a bar shape and a plurality of terminals formed in a strip shape in parallel along an intersecting direction intersecting the extending direction of the terminals. A carrier that is detachably held on the carrier, the carrier holding the terminal with a pair of holding claws opposed to each other in the intersecting direction, and the carrier that is held between the pair of holding claws. It has a low-strength portion that lowers the strength of the portion facing the terminal from the strength of the portion between the holding portions adjacent to each other in the crossing direction.

  In the chain terminal, the low strength portion may be formed by a holding release notch that is formed between the pair of holding claws and penetrates the carrier in the extending direction of the terminal.

  In the chain terminal, the holding release notch may be formed on a surface of the carrier opposite to the side holding the terminal.

  In the chain terminal, the carrier may be wound in the crossing direction so that a surface on the side holding the terminal is located on the inner side to constitute a reel.

  In the chain terminal according to the present invention, a low-strength portion is provided on a carrier that holds a plurality of terminals. The low-strength portion is a portion facing the terminal sandwiched between the pair of holding claws, typically the strength of the portion between the pair of holding claws in the crossing direction. It is lower than the strength of the part between. As a result, the chain terminal makes it easy to bend the carrier to the side opposite to the terminal holding side along the crossing direction with the low strength portion as a base point at the portion between the pair of holding claws that sandwich each terminal. Can do. And the chain terminal opens a pair of holding claws that hold each terminal along the crossing direction by bending the carrier to the side opposite to the holding side of the terminal along the crossing direction with the low-strength portion as a base point, The distance between the pair of holding claws can be increased. As a result, since the chain terminal can easily remove the terminals sandwiched by the pair of holding claws from the pair of holding claws, the workability when removing each terminal from the carrier can be improved. There is an effect.

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the terminal holding side in the vicinity of the holding part of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the vicinity of the low-strength portion of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the vicinity of the holding portion of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a partial side view for explaining the operation of the low-strength portion of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a partial side view for explaining the winding direction of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a partial plan view of the vicinity of the low strength portion of the chain terminal according to the modification. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a connector to which the chain terminal according to the embodiment is applied. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a connector to which the chain terminal according to the embodiment is applied. FIG. 11 is a front view of a connector housing to which the chain terminal according to the embodiment is applied.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a partial plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the terminal holding side in the vicinity of the holding part of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the vicinity of the low-strength portion of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the vicinity of the holding portion of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a partial side view for explaining the operation of the low-strength portion of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a partial side view for explaining the winding direction of the chain terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a partial plan view of the vicinity of the low strength portion of the chain terminal according to the modification. 9 and 10 are perspective views illustrating a schematic configuration of a connector to which the chain terminal according to the embodiment is applied. FIG. 11 is a front view of a connector housing to which the chain terminal according to the embodiment is applied.

  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, a chain terminal 1 that is applied to a connector 100 (see FIG. 9, etc.) is chained by a carrier 3. By arranging and holding the terminals, the terminals 2 can be easily handled during the manufacture of the connector 100 and the workability can be improved.

  First, the connector 100 to which the terminal 2 of the chain terminal 1 is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11. The connector 100 includes a connector housing 101 and terminals 2 and constitutes a so-called wire-to-wire connection mechanism, wire-to-board connection mechanism, and the like. The connector 100 is a male connector that holds the terminal 2 in the connector housing 101 when the male terminal 2 is press-fitted into a plurality of press-fitting holes 102 formed in the connector housing (male housing) 101.

  The connector housing 101 is entirely made of an insulating synthetic resin material or the like. The connector housing 101 includes a hood portion 103 and a partition wall portion 104. The hood part 103 is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape. The hood portion 103 has a hollow interior and is open at both ends in the cylindrical axial direction. The partition wall portion 104 is formed as a partition wall that closes the hollow interior of the hood portion 103 at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the hood portion 103. The partition wall 104 partitions the space inside the hood 103 into a contact-side space 105 and a connection-side space 106. The contact side space portion 105 is a space portion that communicates with one opening of the hood portion 103, and a mating connector (female connector) that holds a mating terminal (female terminal) that is electrically connected to the terminal 2. It is a space part which the connector housing (female housing) 107 of this fits. The connection side space portion 106 is a space portion that communicates with the other opening of the hood portion 103, and is a space portion on the side where an electric wire, a substrate, or the like connected to the terminal 2 is located. The opening on the connection side space portion 106 side is covered together with each terminal 2 by a cover member or the like in a state where an electric wire, a board, or the like is connected to the terminal 2. In the connector housing 101, a plurality of press-fitting holes 102 are formed in the partition wall portion 104. The press-fitting hole 102 may be referred to as a cavity that holds the terminal 2. Each press-fitting hole 102 penetrates the partition wall portion 104 and communicates the contact side space portion 105 and the connection side space portion 106. Here, each press-fitting hole 102 is formed as a rectangular through hole. The press-fitting holes 102 are formed with a predetermined pitch and a predetermined number according to specifications, usage conditions, and the like required for a device to which the connector 100 is applied.

  The terminal 2 is entirely composed of a conductive metal material or the like, and the surface thereof is subjected to conductive plating or the like. The terminal 2 is a wire rod terminal made of a rectangular wire rod formed in a rod shape. A plurality of terminals 2 are provided corresponding to the number of the plurality of press-fitting holes 102. Each terminal 2 is formed in a rectangular column shape corresponding to the shape of each press-fitting hole 102. That is, each terminal 2 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the terminal 2 (hereinafter, also referred to as “terminal extending direction”). Each terminal 2 includes a contact portion 21, a connection portion 22, and a press-fit locking portion 23 as shown in FIG. 1 and the like. Each terminal 2 constitutes a contact portion 21 having one end portion in contact with a counterpart terminal, and the other end portion constitutes a connection portion 22 that is connected to and connected to an electric wire, a substrate, or the like. Each terminal 2 is formed with a press-fit locking portion 23 that is press-fitted into the press-fit hole 102 and locked between the contact portion 21 and the connection portion 22. The press-fit locking part 23 is configured by, for example, a plurality of protrusions formed on the outer surface of each terminal 2. Each terminal 2 is inserted into each press-fitting hole 102, and the press-fitting locking portion 23 is press-fitted and locked in each press-fitting hole 102, whereby the terminal 2 is held by the connector housing 101. In each terminal 2, the contact portion 21 is exposed in the contact-side space portion 105 in a state where the press-fit locking portion 23 is press-fitted and locked in each press-fitting hole 102, and the connection portion 22 is connected to the connection-side space portion 106. Projects outward. In addition, each terminal 2 protruded from the connection side space part 106, when the connector 100 is a PCB connector applied to a wire-to-board connection mechanism, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB). The connecting portion 22 side is bent in a predetermined direction and connected to the substrate.

  The chain terminal 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 is applied when the connector 100 as described above is manufactured. Specifically, the chain terminal 1 includes the plurality of terminals 2 and the carrier 3 described above.

  The carrier 3 is formed in a strip shape and holds the plurality of terminals 2 in a detachable manner in parallel along a chain direction as an intersecting direction intersecting the terminal extending direction. The carrier 3 is entirely formed in a strip shape from a conductive metal material or an insulating synthetic resin material. Here, the terminal extending direction is a direction in which the terminals 2 formed in a rod shape extend, and the chaining direction is an arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals 2. Typically, the terminal extension direction and the chain direction are orthogonal to each other. The chain terminal 1 is parallel to the strip-shaped carrier 3 with the center axis of each terminal 2 along the width direction of the carrier 3 and a plurality of terminals 2 spaced in parallel in the length direction of the carrier 3. Retained.

  Specifically, the carrier 3 has a holding portion 31, and each terminal 2 is held by the holding portion 31. The holding part 31 holds the terminal 2 that has been plated. The holding unit 31 holds the plurality of terminals 2 at a predetermined pitch (here, equal intervals) with respect to the chain direction. The holding part 31 according to the present embodiment is configured to hold each terminal 2 with a pair of holding claws 32 and 33 facing in the chain direction (see FIGS. 3 and 5). The holding claws 32 and 33 are formed so as to protrude in the terminal extending direction and the direction orthogonal to the chain direction. Two pairs of holding claws 32 and 33 are provided for each terminal 2, and are provided on both ends along the chain direction of the carrier 3.

  Furthermore, the carrier 3 of the present embodiment has a low-strength portion 34 at a predetermined position, thereby improving workability when removing each terminal 2 from the carrier 3 (FIGS. 1 and 4). , See FIG. Each terminal 2 may be removed from the carrier 3 after being pressed into each press-fitting hole 102 of the connector housing 101 when the connector 100 is manufactured, or may be removed from the carrier 3 before being press-fitted. May be.

  Specifically, the low-strength portion 34 is a portion of the carrier 3 that is formed in a band shape and faces the terminal 2 that is sandwiched between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33, typically a pair of chains in the chain direction. It is a part which lowers the intensity | strength of the site | part between the holding claws 32 and 33 from the intensity | strength of the site | part between the adjacent holding parts 31 in a chain direction. The low-strength portion 34 of the present embodiment is configured by a holding / release notch 35. The holding release notches 35 are respectively formed between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 and penetrate the carrier 3 in the extending direction of the terminal 2. Each holding release notch 35 is formed on the surface of the carrier 3 opposite to the side holding the terminal 2. That is, each holding release notch 35 is formed on the surface of the carrier 3 opposite to the side from which the holding claws 32 and 33 protrude. Here, each holding and releasing notch 35 is formed as a V-shaped groove portion formed on one surface of the belt-like carrier 3 along the terminal extending direction. Each holding release notch 35 is formed so as to be substantially parallel to each terminal 2 held by the pair of holding claws 32 and 33. Each holding and releasing notch 35 has a V-shaped cross section along the chain direction.

  Each low-strength portion 34 configured as described above is a portion facing the terminal 2 held between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 by the holding release notches 35, that is, the pair of holding claws 32 in the chain direction. , 33 can be lower than the strength of the portion between the adjacent holding portions 31 in the chain direction. Thereby, each low intensity | strength part 34 can make small bending strength to the opposite side to the side holding the terminal 2 in the site | part between a pair of holding claws 32 and 33 by each holding release notch 35, and strength. Compared to a relatively large portion (for example, a portion between adjacent holding portions 31), it can be easily bent to the side opposite to the side holding the terminal 2. In other words, each low-strength portion 34 functions as a bending portion that facilitates bending of the carrier 3 to the side opposite to the terminal 2 at a portion between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33.

  Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and the like, the chain terminal 1 is configured to hold the carrier 3 at the portion between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 holding the terminals 2, and the holding release notch constituting the low strength portion 34. It can be made easy to bend in the direction opposite to the holding side of the terminal 2 along the chain direction starting from 35. And the chain terminal 1 clamps each terminal 2 by bending the carrier 3 to the opposite side to the holding side of the terminal 2 along the chain direction with the holding release notch 35 constituting the low-strength portion 34 as a base point. The pair of holding claws 32, 33 can be opened along the chain direction to the opposite side of the clamping direction, and the interval W between the pair of holding claws 32, 33 can be widened. In other words, the chain terminal 1 is bent more than the interval W1 between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 before being bent by bending the terminal 2 along the chain direction from the holding release notch 35 to the opposite side of the holding side of the terminal 2. The distance W2 between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 after being formed can be relatively wide (W2> W1). As a result, the chain terminal 1 can easily remove the terminal 2 sandwiched between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 from the pair of holding claws 32 and 33.

  The chain terminal 1 may be wound in the chain direction to form a reel 4 as shown in FIG. 7, for example, in a state where a plurality of terminals 2 are continuous in the chain direction. Thereby, the chain terminal 1 can be made easy to carry, for example. In this case, it is preferable that the carrier 4 is wound in the chain direction so that the surface on the side holding the terminal 2 is positioned inside to constitute the reel 4. That is, in this case, the chain terminal 1 has a surface on the carrier 3 side that holds the terminal 2, that is, a surface on which the holding release notch 35 is not formed, located on the winding center C side. As a result, even when the chain terminal 1 is wound in the chain direction to form the reel 4, the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 are closed to the clamping direction side along the chain direction in the wound state. The interval W between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 can be narrowed. As a result, the chain terminal 1 is wound in the chain direction to form the reel 4 in the configuration in which the terminals 2 sandwiched between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 are easily removed by the low strength portions 34 as described above. Even in this case, the terminal 2 can be made difficult to come off from the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 in the wound state.

  The chain terminal 1 is also formed with a pilot hole 36 and the like in the carrier 3. The pilot hole 36 is, for example, a hole used for feed adjustment when the chain terminal 1 wound in a reel shape is fed in the chain direction by the manufacturing apparatus when the connector 100 is manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus. It is formed so as to penetrate the carrier 3.

  According to the chain terminal 1 described above, a plurality of terminals 2 formed in a rod shape and a plurality of terminals 2 formed in a strip shape can be attached and detached in parallel along the chain direction intersecting with the extending direction of the terminals 2. The carrier 3 is held between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 that hold the terminal 2 with the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 and the pair of holding claws 32 and 33. The low strength part 34 which lowers the intensity | strength of the site | part facing the terminal 2 of a state from the intensity | strength of the site | part between the adjacent holding | maintenance parts 31 in the chain direction is provided.

  Therefore, the chain terminal 1 is provided with the low-strength portion 34 in the carrier 3 that holds the plurality of terminals 2. The low-strength portion 34 determines the strength of the portion facing the terminal 2 held between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33, that is, the strength between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 in the chaining direction. The strength is lower than the strength of the portion between the adjacent holding portions 31. As a result, the chain terminal 1 is connected to the holding side of the terminal 2 along the chain direction with the low-strength portion 34 as a base point at a portion between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 that sandwich each terminal 2. Can be easily bent to the opposite side. The chain terminal 1 bends the carrier 3 along the chain direction from the low strength portion 34 to the side opposite to the holding side of the terminal 2 by bending the carrier 3 so that the entire carrier 3 bends and holds the terminals 2. The holding claws 32 and 33 can be opened along the chain direction, and the interval W between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 can be widened. As a result, the chain terminal 1 can easily remove the terminal 2 held by the pair of holding claws 32, 33 from the pair of holding claws 32, 33. Workability can be improved.

  Further, since the chain terminal 1 can easily remove the terminal 2 from the pair of holding claws 32 and 33, for example, when the terminals 2 are removed from the carrier 3, the terminal 2 slides with respect to the holding claws 32 and 33. It can suppress moving and can suppress that the said terminal 2 is damaged. Thereby, the chain terminal 1 can suppress deterioration of quality, such as conduction | electrical_connection performance. As a result, this chain terminal 1 can improve the workability at the time of removing each terminal 2 from the carrier 3, after suppressing the deterioration of quality.

  Further, according to the chain terminal 1 described above, the low-strength portion 34 is formed by the holding release notch 35 that is formed between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 and penetrates the carrier 3 in the extending direction of the terminal 2. Is done. Therefore, the chain terminal 1 can constitute a low strength portion 34 that relatively reduces the strength of the portion between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 in the chain direction by the holding release notches 35. As a result, for example, the chain terminal 1 can easily open the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 holding the terminals 2 with a relatively small force along the chain direction. The workability at the time of removing from the carrier 3 can be further improved.

  Further, according to the chain terminal 1 described above, the holding release notch 35 is formed on the surface of the carrier 3 opposite to the side holding the terminal 2. Therefore, the chain terminal 1 can further easily bend the carrier 3 to the side opposite to the holding side of the terminal 2 along the chain direction with the holding and releasing notch 35 as a base point by the holding and releasing notch 35. Also in this respect, the chain terminal 1 can further improve the workability when removing each terminal 2 from the carrier 3.

  Further, according to the chain terminal 1 described above, the carrier is wound in the chain direction so that the surface on the side holding the terminal 2 is positioned on the inner side to constitute the reel 4. Therefore, even when the chain terminal 1 is configured to easily remove the terminal 2 held between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 by the low-strength portions 34, the chain terminal 1 is wound in the chain direction to form the reel 4. In the wound state, the terminal 2 can be made difficult to come off from the pair of holding claws 32 and 33. As a result, the chain terminals 1 can be easily transported by configuring the reels 4, and workability when removing the terminals 2 from the carrier 3 can be improved.

  In addition, the chain terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention mentioned above is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various change is possible in the range described in the claim.

  In the above description, the terminal extending direction and the chaining direction (crossing direction) have been described as being orthogonal to each other.

  The low-strength portion described above is formed between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 and is described as being constituted by the holding release notch 35 that penetrates the carrier 3 in the extending direction of the terminal 2, but is not limited thereto. Absent. The low-strength portion may be a semicircular groove portion, a substantially rectangular cross-section groove portion, a simple thin portion, or the like. The low strength portion 234 provided in the chain terminal 1A according to the modification illustrated in FIG. 8 is configured by, for example, a holding / release through hole 235. The holding / release through hole 235 is formed at a portion facing the terminal 2 in a state of being held between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33. The holding / release through hole 235 is formed through the carrier 3 along the terminal extending direction and the direction orthogonal to the chaining direction. Further, the holding and releasing through hole 235 does not penetrate the carrier 3 in the terminal extending direction, that is, has a shape in which both ends of the terminal extending direction are closed. Even in this case, the chain terminal 1A has the strength of the portion facing the terminal 2 in a state of being held between the pair of holding claws 32 and 33 by the holding and releasing through-holes 235, and adjacent holding portions in the chain direction. A low-strength portion 234 that is lower than the strength of the portion between 31 can be configured. As a result, the chain terminal 1 </ b> A can improve the workability when removing each terminal 2 from the carrier 3. Here, the holding and releasing through-hole 235 is illustrated as being formed in a substantially rectangular shape along the terminal extending direction, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed in a long hole shape, for example.

1, 1A Chain terminal 2 Terminal 3 Carrier 4 Reel 31 Holding part 32, 33 Holding claw 34, 234 Low strength part 35 Holding release notch 235 Holding release through hole

Claims (3)

A plurality of terminals formed in a rod shape;
A carrier that is formed in a strip shape and holds the plurality of terminals in a detachable manner in parallel along the crossing direction intersecting the extending direction of the terminals,
The carrier has a holding portion that holds and holds the terminal with a pair of holding claws opposed in the intersecting direction, and a strength of a portion facing the terminal in a state of being held between the pair of holding claws. have a low strength portion to reduce than the strength of the portion between the holding portions adjacent in the direction,
The low-strength portion is formed between the pair of holding claws, and is configured by a holding release notch penetrating the carrier in the extending direction of the terminal .
Chain terminal. The holding release notch is formed on the surface of the carrier opposite to the side holding the terminal.
The chain terminal according to claim 1 . The carrier is wound in the intersecting direction so that a surface on the side holding the terminal is located on the inner side to form a reel.
The chain terminal according to claim 1 or 2 .

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